Free the Holy Land from Seljuq control –Seljuq Turks Captured Holy Land –Dates back to when Byzantines still controlled Constantinople –Started by Pope Urban II –10,000 Europeans joined cause Wore a cross on shoulder or back Reasons people went: –To save souls –Money and land –Adventure

Brought much of the Holy Land under European control Lead by French and Italian Lords –Lacked food and water Brought European customs to Holy Land –Feudalism –Fiefs –Trade

The Second Crusade –Failed to recapture Damascus –France (Louis VII) and Germany (Conrad III) The Third Crusade –Again failed to recapture Jerusalem –Saladin helped the lead the Muslims to regain control of Jerusalem –Rome (Barbarossa), France (Phillip II), England (Richard I) The Fourth Crusade –French Knights attacked Constantinople, Europeans still controlled Constantinople at the end of the 4 th crusade –Constantinople collapsed in 1453 Other crusades –crusades continued until the last Christian stronghold, Acre, fell in 1291

Weapons and warfare –Crossbow –New ways to wage war Political changes –Fewer lords –Stronger kings –End of feudalism, gave way to a stronger monarchy –More powerful Christian church

Trade in Italy –Sea and overland trade routes Trade in northern Europe Growth in population and wealth occurred as a result of revival of trade The Hanseatic League –German trading cities joined together to increase trade –Controlled trade on Baltic and North Sea

Luxury goods –Dyes –Medicines –Silks –Spices Manufactured goods –Cotton –Linen –Art objects Local markets gave rise to fairs for sale of imported goods with added tax –Barter Economy –Fairs are where early merchants sold most of their goods Social events –Tournaments